1. Information We Collect

Populous is an independent platform designed with privacy in mind. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to the City of Bloomington, Minnesota. We collect minimal information necessary to provide our service. We automatically collect basic usage data such as page views and feature interactions to improve our platform. All meeting transcripts and city information displayed are public records from the City of Bloomington.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Provide access to city meeting transcripts and summaries
• Enable search functionality across meeting content
• Link to official city services and resources
• Analyze platform usage to enhance user experience
• Ensure platform security and prevent abuse
• Optimize performance and fix technical issues

3. Public Information

All meeting transcripts, summaries, and city information displayed on Populous are public records from the City of Bloomington, Minnesota. This information is already publicly available through official city channels. We aggregate and present this information in an accessible format for community benefit.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. We may share data only when required by law, to protect our rights, or with trusted service providers who help operate our platform under strict confidentiality agreements.

5. Cookies & Analytics

We may use cookies and analytics tools to understand how users interact with our platform. This helps us improve Populous and provide a better experience. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Analytics data is anonymized and used only for improvement purposes.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect information from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. We use encryption and secure protocols for all data transmission. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Know what data we collect about you
• Request deletion of your data
• Object to or restrict data processing
• Opt-out of analytics tracking
• Control cookie preferences in your browser

8. Third-Party Links

Populous contains links to official City of Bloomington websites and external city services. These services have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. Please review their policies before using external services.

9. Children's Privacy

Populous is a public information platform and is not specifically directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a child, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

10. Changes to Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify users of significant changes and encourage regular review of this policy. Continued use of Populous constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.